Arealty

Landing in Tokyo with your keys already arranged is a great feeling. No hotel for weeks, no rushed viewings while jet lagged. But can you actually rent an apartment from overseas?

In many cases, yes. Here is how it works, and what to prepare.

Why it is possible now

Japan's rental process has gone more digital in recent years. Online viewings by video call, online explanations of the important contract terms, and electronic contract signing are now common with many agencies. That makes it realistic to secure an apartment before you fly.

What you usually need

Requirements vary by landlord, but most will ask for:

• A copy of your passport
• Your visa or Certificate of Eligibility
• An employment contract, offer letter or school admission letter
• An emergency contact
• Approval from a guarantor company

You will get your residence card at the airport when you arrive. Some landlords sign the contract first and ask for a copy of the card after arrival.

For a step by step walkthrough, see our guide to renting a Japan apartment from overseas before arrival.

Paying from abroad

Move-in costs are usually due before the keys are released. Ask your agent how payment works. Some accept international bank transfers, others accept credit cards. Budget for transfer fees and exchange rates.

Why many relocating professionals choose Minato

If you are moving for work, Minato ward is a popular first home:

• It hosts many embassies, international companies and international schools.
• Areas like Azabu, Hiroo and Shirokane are known for English friendly services and clinics.
• Landlords here are used to foreign tenants, including those signing from abroad.

Rents are high, but the convenience is hard to beat for a first year in Japan. Browse listings on the Minato-ku apartments for rent page.

Tips to avoid surprises

1. Ask for a live video viewing, not only photos.
2. Ask about the view, noise and sunlight at different times of day.
3. Confirm what is included: lights, curtains and air conditioners are not always provided.
4. Check the move-in date matches your flight.

Start before you fly

Browse all apartments for rent, or visit Arealty to work with an English speaking team that handles overseas applications every day.

Scroll through cheap Tokyo listings and you will see a lot of small apartments with a ladder leading up to a loft. On photos they look charming. A little sleeping nook above your living space, and more room for the same rent.

Lofts can be a great deal. They can also be a mistake. Here is how to tell the difference before you sign.

What counts as a loft in Japan

In Japanese rentals, a loft (ロフト) is an upper storage space that is not counted as a room. To stay outside the official floor area, it generally has to have a low ceiling and a limited size compared with the room below. That is why most lofts are too low to stand up in.

This matters because you are not paying for the loft as floor space. A 1K with a loft is still legally a 1K.

The good side

• More usable space. Sleeping up top frees the main room for a sofa or desk.
• Separation. It feels more like a bedroom than a bed in the corner.
• Storage. Even if you do not sleep there, it holds suitcases and seasonal items.

The pitfalls

• Heat. Warm air rises. In a Tokyo summer, a loft without good airflow can be very hot at night.
• The ladder. Climbing down half asleep is not fun. Check how steep and stable it is.
• Cleaning and dust. Lofts are easy to forget.
• Low ceilings. Sitting up in bed may not be possible.

Our article on the pitfalls of renting a loft apartment in Japan covers each one in more detail, with tips to avoid them.

Questions to ask at the viewing

1. Is there an air conditioner, and can it cool the loft?
2. Is there a window or vent in the loft?
3. Is the ladder fixed or removable?
4. How high is the loft ceiling at its highest point?

Where to find loft apartments

Nakano ward is one of the best places in Tokyo to look. Areas around Nakano Station, Arai and the Seibu Shinjuku line stations such as Saginomiya have many compact apartments with lofts, popular with students and young workers. The JR Chuo line gets you to Shinjuku in minutes.

You can browse current listings on the Nakano-ku apartments for rent page.

Find your apartment

Search all apartments for rent by layout and budget, or visit Arealty to have our English speaking agents check the loft details for you.

A working holiday is one of the best ways to experience Japan. You can work, travel and live like a local for up to a year, or longer for some nationalities. Finding a place to live, though, is often the hardest part.

Here is how renting works on a working holiday, and where to start looking.

Why renting is harder on a working holiday

Most Japanese landlords prefer tenants who will stay for two years and have a stable Japanese employer. A working holiday visa does not fit that picture neatly:

• Your visa is short, so a standard two-year contract may not make sense.
• You may not have a job yet when you arrive.
• You might not have a Japanese bank account or phone number in your first weeks.

None of this makes renting impossible. It just changes which options work best.

Your realistic options

• Share houses: the most popular choice. Short contracts, furnished rooms, low move-in costs and an instant community.
• Monthly or furnished apartments: private space with utilities included, usually with no guarantor needed.
• Regular apartments: possible if you find work quickly and use a foreigner friendly guarantor company.

For costs, documents and tips for each option, see our guide to renting an apartment on a working holiday visa.

Why Ikebukuro is a good base

Toshima ward, home to Ikebukuro, is a great first area for working holiday makers:

• Transport. Ikebukuro Station is served by the JR Yamanote, Saikyo and Shonan-Shinjuku lines, three Tokyo Metro lines, and the Seibu and Tobu private lines.
• Jobs. Restaurants, retail and hospitality work are everywhere around the station.
• Value. Rents are generally lower than in Shibuya or Minato, especially a few stops out on the Seibu or Tobu lines.

Browse what is available on the Toshima-ku apartments for rent page.

Your first two weeks checklist

1. Register your address at the ward office within 14 days of moving in.
2. Join National Health Insurance at the same time.
3. Get a Japanese phone number, then open a bank account.
4. Keep copies of your pay slips. They help when you apply for a regular apartment later.

Ready to find your place?

Explore all apartments for rent in Japan, or visit Arealty to get help from English speaking staff who work with working holiday tenants.

Osaka University is one of Japan's top national universities, and it welcomes thousands of international students. But its campuses are spread out, and choosing the wrong area can add a long commute to every school day.

If you study at the Suita campus, living in Suita city is often the easiest choice.

Know your campus first

Osaka University has three main campuses:

• Suita: the largest, home to engineering, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and several research institutes.
• Toyonaka: for many first-year general education classes, plus science, law, economics and letters.
• Minoh: the School of Foreign Studies, next to Minoh-Semba-Handai-mae station.

Many students spend their first year or two at Toyonaka, then move to Suita for specialized courses. Plan your housing around where you will spend most of your time.

Our Osaka University student housing guide compares dormitories, share houses and private apartments for each campus.

Why Suita works for students

Suita sits just north of Osaka city and is full of students. Kansai University's main campus is here too, so landlords are used to young tenants.

Popular student areas include:

• Kita-Senri: the end of the Hankyu Senri line, with supermarkets and a short ride to campus.
• Yamada and Banpaku-kinen-koen: on the Osaka Monorail, which runs directly to Handai-byoin-mae station on the Suita campus.
• Senri-Chuo: a major hub with shopping, the Osaka Monorail and the Kita-Osaka Kyuko line connecting to Umeda and Namba.

You can compare current listings on the Suita-shi apartments for rent page.

Tips for international students

1. Apply for the university dormitory early. Places are limited and fill quickly before April and October intakes.
2. Check bicycle routes. Suita is hilly in places. A short ride on the map can be a steep climb.
3. Look for furnished options in your first semester. It gives you time to learn the area before signing a two-year lease.
4. Prepare your documents. Most landlords ask for your residence card, certificate of enrollment and an emergency contact.

Find your student apartment

Browse all apartments for rent across Japan, or visit Arealty for English support finding a student friendly home near your campus.

When you get orders to Yokota Air Base, one of the first decisions is where to live. On-base housing is not always available, and many service members and civilian employees end up renting off-base in the towns around the base.

The good news is that western Tokyo is a comfortable place to live. It is quieter than central Tokyo, homes are larger, and you are still about an hour from Shinjuku by train.

Towns around the base

Yokota sits across several municipalities. The most popular places to rent are:

• Fussa: the closest town to the main gates. Fussa and Ushihama stations on the JR Ome line make train trips easy, and the Route 16 strip outside the base has shops and restaurants that cater to Americans.
• Hamura: just north of Fussa, with riverside parks along the Tama River and good value family houses.
• Akishima: south of the base, with large shopping centers and the JR Ome line toward Tachikawa.
• Mizuho and Musashimurayama: quieter areas on the north and east sides, often chosen by families who want more space and a yard.

For a full overview of housing types, typical rents and commute times to the gates, read our Yokota Air Base housing guide.

What off-base homes look like

Off-base housing near Yokota ranges from compact apartments to detached houses. Many homes were built with American tenants in mind, so you will see more Western-style kitchens and larger bedrooms than usual in Tokyo.

You can browse current listings on the Fussa-shi apartments for rent page.

Five things to check before signing

1. Approval from your housing office. Make sure the property and the lease meet the requirements of your base housing office before you commit.
2. Parking. Most families need a car. Confirm whether a parking space is included or rented separately.
3. Heating. Older Japanese houses can be cold in winter. Ask how each room is heated.
4. Early termination terms. If you might move on short notice, check the notice period and any penalty for leaving early.
5. Garbage rules. Each city has its own sorting rules and collection days. Ask the agent for the local guide.

Life off-base

Living off-base is a chance to experience everyday Japan. Local festivals, neighborhood supermarkets and the Tama River trails quickly become part of your routine. Many families say it is the highlight of their tour.

Start your search

Browse all apartments for rent in Japan, or visit Arealty to work with an English speaking team that helps military families find homes near Yokota every week.